Iconic: My Life in Fashion in 50 Objects

by Zandra Rhodes

Brought to you by Penguin.

Dame Zandra Rhodes has spent her life rallying against what was expected of her, both as a designer and a woman. Often perceived as too bold for the mainstream, she fought for creativity and individuality, and continues to achieve both in everything she does.

In this insightful memoir, Zandra shares her life story for the first time. Told through a variety of mementos collected over the years, it is a vibrant account filled with rockstars and royalty, of life-changing friendships and poignant reflections on her personal triumphs and tragedies, as well as the fears, sacrifices and pressures that come with being an era-defining designer.

From a road trip to Rome with Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell, to opening her first London store thanks to a kind loan from Vanessa Redgrave while Joe Cocker sang With a Little Help From My Friends; from judging Andrew Logan's Alternative Miss World with David Hockney and Angie Bowie which was so packed that even David Bowie couldn't get in, to hanging out with Andy Warhol and Halston in New York's Studio 54; from friendships with legends such as Karl Lagerfeld and Diana Vreeland to designing for everyone from Freddie Mercury to Diana Ross, from Princess Diana to Barbra Streisand. Iconic gives the reader a sense of being right alongside Zandra through all the highs and lows of her extraordinary life.

Capturing the rich and unexpected life of a British icon, this memoir explores what it is to defy the norm.

‘A wonderful, fascinating, fun collection of memories and stories.' Shirley Bassey

'Dazzling from start to finish.' Joanna Lumley

‘Zandra Rhodes has changed the course of fashion history.' Suzy Menkes, fashion journalist

352 pages, Hardcover

Published July 18, 2024

Reviews

[madz · Rating 5 out of 5]

a memoir full of colour, i feel so lucky to have had an insight into her life. everyone should read this book, everyone should strive to live as full a life as Zandra has. 5 FREAKIN STARS

[Mike Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Color purple patch: since she’s an octogenarian who’s determined not to go gentle into anything, and a grande dame - no, *the* grande dame since she’s outlasted Vivienne - of British fashion and design, it would be churlish to greet Miss Rhodes in 50 pieces with anything other than open arms. If life is a rich tapestry, then Zandra’s is embroidered in the most shocking of pinks and electric of blues, and she acknowledges her fortune in the happy accident of being born at the right time and place for a Fort Pitt girl to make good. If she hasn’t had quite the same impact as Galliano or McQueen, put that down to good old fashioned industrial sexism or her absolute desire to do things her own way. A cast of supporting characters from old queens like Divine through Queen to *The* Queen take a bow, and there are snippets of a social history of the British rag trade to boot. And, *squeal* when I went to the Biba exhibition I saw Zandra, unloading stuff in the warehouse - so all that workaholic stuff - baby, it’s true. A lioness in winter.

[Lyn Lockwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a birthday present from a dear friend and not something I would have bought for myself. But she bought it for me because she knows about my love of textiles and fashion history. Zandra Rhodes has lived through iconic times - London in the 1960s and New York in the 70s. She's known some amazing people- Lauren Bacall, Twiggy, Princess Di, Divine, David Hockney, Freddie Mercury etc- and seen her style go in and out of fashion but always stayed true to her own vision. I'm going to visit her museum of textiles in London in January on the back of this book. My only real criticism is the lack of colour photos and the use of Rhodes's own pencil sketches which meant I had to Google her prints and outfits so I could really see what they looked like. But she's Zandra Rhodes- a fashion legend- and I think she can do whatever she wants really!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Zandra’s an icon and a fantastic role model. Lots of stories about other icons including Freddie Mercury, Princess Diana, Mark Bolan and the Royal Family all framed through memorable objects she takes the reader through. Fabulous 🙂

[Beverley Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book, absolutely fascinating insight into how Zandra creates . She is an absolute icon ,a one off design legend .

[Susan Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book